Our annual summertime "Haunted Elementary School" and fireworks fun...

Friday, July 31st was our local elementary schools Haunted Elementary school, walk through at night. Our elementary school becomes a humongous haunted house for the 1 night, in summer! The kids look forward to this, all year long!  Hi kiddo...hi Noah. : )

All these kids were waiting for a scare of their life! By the way...one room on the 3rd floor, had the movie...The Juon/The Grudge playing. And of course, we also had the Grudge girl (in costume, it's really a papa) was also creeping around. Oh we had so many people in costumes... ready to give the kids all... mini heart attacks. : ) But the kids were ready and willing! The kids were so excited being there!

You have to go from scare room... to different scare room. On all 3 floors. And there are people in each room or around every turn or corner, we even had folks.... hiding on the stair wells. While the kids were busy stamping their stamp rally paper. Branden with this creepy mask popped out! Once....when Branden popped out...1 little girl started crying immediately. I felt so badly. But...you know...you go to a haunted house...you sorta expect to be scared. : ) And Bran was safely behind the desk so it's not like... he was near her at all. She just...burst into tears. But 99% of the rest got scared at first... but then got happy....and this kid pictured here. Actually smiled...recognized it was B and wanted to shake his hand! LOL. Which Bran did shake his hand. : ) And he said...hi! : ) 

Every kid brings a flashlight and a drink for themselves. And every kid is asked to bring 1 small pack of fireworks. You know...like a 200 yen/$2 US type pack (Trial, a chain store, even has packs for 89 yen). All the fireworks are all lumped together and every kid gets an equal amount. : )  There was also 1 room that was so scary... you could not enter... unless you were a 4th grader or older! @_@ Noah went through and said...it wasn't scary at all. : ) Hahaha. But then...my kids love scary movies and stuff like that. : )

Also, as you can see, by the chisai towel around Noah's neck. In Japan, in hot summer, people carry around chisai towels. Meaning small towels. To wipe the sweat from your face or forehead or neck. I made sure, I packed Noah his thermos with tons of ice and mugicha. 1 chisai towel with his name sewn on it, in case it gets lost (which is very normal in Japan). And his flash light. : ) I also packed Branden, a chisai towel and a thermos with tea and ice as well. And I brought my own small towel and a little can of anti-mosquito spray. I sprayed it onto the kids at the school parking lot, when we first arrived. And I resprayed the kids... right when we went outside to start lighting the fireworks. Mosquitoes in Japan are pretty aggressive. Oh yes...see Noah's inside shoes. I also made sure, not to forget his inside shoes, because in summer kids bring them home and Noah's were home...but I knew he needed them, so I packed them in his backpack as well. : )  Geeze Louise...was that one heck of a little list... of stuff to remember for 1 outing, or what. Hahaha. : ) 

Even though Branden, is in JHS now. And no longer a student at the local elementary school. He and 2 other boys from the local JHS and 1 girl. These 4 kids, including Bran, help out for this night and that's only because their dad's are in the Father's Club #1 and #2, they have younger siblings. Also...because I would never want anyone to get their nose out of joint and say. "Hey, that's not fair, her older son got some fireworks and he's not a student here!" Granted nobody has ever said that. But just because...I am a "think ahead" type gal. I buy 1 small set of fireworks for Noah to donate, same exact size as all the other kids bring too. And I buy a medium size package of fireworks for about 400 yen, for Branden and if Noah has run out of his fireworks, he can take some from that pack too (kids at the elementary can go back and get extra fireworks, but, Noah only gets 1 good handful from the school and no extras even though he could). That way if anyone ever says anything at all. I can say, as politely as possible..."I purchased these fireworks, for my own JHS child, thank you very much for your concern and for asking, but rest assured, these are indeed his." I always bring the bag they came in from the store and receipt with me too. Again, doubt anyone would ever dream of saying anything or even care, but then again...best to always be prepared. And again, the folks in my town are so nice and lovely, but I do bring the receipt, always just in case. : ) Anyways...I enjoy watching the boys light fireworks with their friends and with each other. : )

Enjoying the fireworks, in rural Japan. 

This is a night where so many families and kids have so much fun, in our tiny little town in the Japanese countryside! A haunted elementary school, plus some fireworks to end the evening with! : )

Noboru, spent the night in the gymnasium with the other Father's Club dad's and all male teachers and the head (male) teacher and (male) principal. He said, they all ordered food and everyone drank. Noboru said, the gymnasium was SO hot that night. They all slept on gym mats, but they all had an absolute blast. : ) I'm glad Noboru has close friendships like this and I'm glad he stayed the night! Because he needs to have fun too! The kids and I, ate supper before the haunted school began. We had baked chicken paremsan and pasta. We 3 left half of our meals, in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap and we just nuked the leftovers when we got home. We came home....we 3 took turns showering because we all smelled like fireworks, we all were sprayed down with mosquito spray, so we all needed a good soapy hot shower. Hahaha. After that...we all ate our leftover chicken parmesan and pasta. And watched TV. : )

Since, we have been back from Guam...our family has gone to the beach in Japan (last Friday), we had just the absolute best day at the beach, we brought a nice picnic lunch and everything and even went out to Jolly Pasta later, that same night. And today, I took the boys to the movie theater to see Jurassic World! Such a great movie! : ) I am trying my best to catch up the blog. But, we also want to enjoy summer too, I'm sure you all understand. : ) But, I am trying, my best. : )  Oh goodness, I think my favorite TV show comes on tonight, Scream, is the name of the show. Yay! And we're having karaage, rice, corn on the cob, a simple salad and fresh fruit for supper tonight, the fried chicken should be done shortly, so I better hurry and post this. Have a wonderful night everyone. : ) 

Summer fun in Japan... haunted school and fireworks

July 25th, was our local school's haunted house of horrors walk-thru! Noboru is the one who first started this at our local school years ago. Noboru was/is in the father's club and during one of their meetings years ago in May, Noboru mentioned that his/our kids love flashlights, sleep with them and like walking around upstairs with flashlights. He just said it, not thinking much about it and all the other father's said...OMG my kids love flashlights too, same same! So Noboru suggested wouldn't it be fun to have a haunted walk thru at our school and really give the kids a good scare. The head teacher, the principal and all the other dad's thought...let's do it this year! Noboru was like wow! @.@ He never thought it would be such a thing... and the dad's were so excited they wanted it that very summer. I think the first year 90 kids showed up and every year since it keeps growing. I think our school population is 200 or somewhere about that. And this year over 160 kids showed up with parents. How truly funny how things can snowball, hahaha. Anyway so that's how it all started at our local school anyway. : ) Just thought I'd share that. : ) All kids are separated by grade, the rectangular flags saying 1,2,3, you know what I mean... all the way to grade 6. : ) 

Noah and his fellow 3rd graders. The kiddo in orange right in front of Noah, that's S, the only kiddo from our same yochien. As I was parking my car at the plaza, S had just arrived with his grandma and he was waiting for Noah to get out of my car, so they could run up the hill together. : ) 

So much excitement in the air! And I knew it would be probably the best year yet... for this at our school! Through the years, everyone has learned and revised and we had all haunters or scarers in costume this year! I knew all the scary people and monsters and ghouls waiting for these kiddos! Hint...Sadako from The Ring/Ringu was waiting for them!!! A death type looking guy with mask and ax...evil clown (Branden) just everyone really upped their game this year! Oh these poor kids had no idea what scary stuff was waiting for them!!! 

Be brave kids, be strong!!! And good luck! : ) 

Noboru in his yellow Father's Club shirt right there...

Noboru helping a little girl... find her right row/line to be standing in...he's such a nice guy! : )

Before all the kids were allowed into the school, Noboru let me in the school and see where everyone was hiding. : ) All the kids and their parents had to wait in the gym until it was, go time! 

Noboru handles all the music, he prepares all the music in advance. You know the music those few piano keys that play when Michael Myers is after you on Halloween...he plays that...he plays all sorts of super creepy music!!!  The music is played throughout the entire school via the speakers they make their school announcements with.

After Noboru was sure everyone was ready, the music was right to press play...I went to stand and watch the crowd of kids swarm the school...you can see them all running towards me in this pic...

Flashlights and a huge crowd of running kids.

Noboru in the yellow walking thru making sure all kids were safe and all scarers were safe as well. Kids had maps and were going from room to room. Also the last 4-5 years, there were prizes for whoever completed it fastest...but I mentioned to Noboru a few months back the kids don't really get to enjoy each room fully with the time crunch and stress of trying to place first, second or third, and he agreed so no more prizes or 1st,2nd and 3rd. All kids truly enjoyed it this year! He asks me because...he is usually busy running things and has never walked it with kids...where as I have and I can give him the honest feedback, like what should be switched next time, etc. : )

This is Branden's scare room, the pumpkin lights would be visible and when or if you were brave enough to enter...be prepared for a real good scare! : ) 

Do you see the top of the colorful wig...These girls were so scared, they high tailed it... right outta there! This cracked me up to no end! I was laughing on the inside though. : )  Just smiling on the outside...

Boo! And that's 7th grade K, he somehow didn't realize he needed a costume...and had no time to find one, so he just used a school bucket and banged it while walking around. He did very good! 

You know these pumpkins...they usually hang on our front porch around Halloween time. Great job Bran!

This cutie in yukata, walked into the room, before realizing an evil clown was inside and she ran out immediately! Both kids smiling at me. : )

Watch out for the scary man with the ax!!! This was Akira's dad. : )  He's so awesome and so nice.

Okay so...I knew Sadako from The Ringu was there, I knew this! However, if you ever saw The Ring/Ringu you'll know how scary this character walks....well, I was walking alone somewhere between the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor and I came face to face with "Sadako" ...I just stopped dead in my tracks. It was really unnerving for about 5 seconds. Also between you and me...Sadako was played by a man in the Father's Club...he has a son in Noah's class and he is the absolute nicest man...so nice! The kids were freaked for days seeing Sadako and for the record so were all the parents too, who had no idea he was up on the upper levels/floors! Hahaha. 

The walk thru was supposed to last for 45 minutes and then fireworks outside...but the walk thru lasted over an hour...way over an hour, I'd say 75 minutes, if I were to guess! And the last 20 mins, Noboru went to each scarer and asked them to creepily walk thru all the floors, which that's what Branden was doing in this picture...walking from floor to floor. 

If you live in America or ever saw the movie Mr. Holland's Opus, you'll know teachers in the US can teach at the same school for decades...in fact they can even start at a particular school and retire from the same school. However in Japan, teachers are transferred out, every few years. Our head teacher who was amazing and born and raised in our town, and who still lives in our town was transferred to a totally different school. Anyway, we got a new head teacher, not from our town by the way. He was requested to wear a scary costume...he showed up with this bowling pin costume instead! Also, he didn't move around at all...he stood in that same spot the entire time! Which is okay. We are a very different school. I am sure he was pretty surprised at our haunted school. All the running kids, all the scary costumes. The positive is...he tried and hey, you can't knock a person who tries....not ever! And #2 he did show up in costume, right? : ) I was wondering if he went home that night and told his wife..."honey, I have been transferred to the *weirdest* school ever!!!" Hahaha. I am sure he will loosen up eventually. : ) And he is very nice. So our new head teacher...in his bowling pin outfit. : ) Not bad! : ) And he did try his best! : )

Brothers...Branden and Noah walking from floor to floor. : )

All of the kids had the best time!

When I look at this picture, the first thing that catches my eye is Sadako from The Ring. LOL. Noboru thought it would be a great idea for all of the scarers to come out, so everyone could give them a hand!!! They all did the best job! They made the night a success, well and Noboru too! : ) 

And we cannot forget our newest member...the bowling pin, *ahem* the new head teacher! He's trying very hard! : )

Smiling for me! : )

The 2 ladies in black and white stripes are both very young mothers, are very nice and both have kids in Noah's class/grade. The one with the pony tail is super nice! I could hear them talking, these mom's in particular loved the costumes, you can see her taking pics of Bran and the others. : ) Oh and fwiw, the only reason I know they're young mothers, not that it matters...but it is because last year the kids did a class project and the one with the pony tails son, wrote a paper how his mom was 17 years old when she gave birth to him. So both really young mom's. But awesome ladies, they always greet me and says hi and stuff (in Japanese of course). A couple of the 30's- to early 40's mom's seemed to snub her last year when we pulled the dashi and I was working that...they gave all other mom's drinks of Aquarius and such but not her...I can't stand bullying or purely being mean to anyone (hateful people age 10 times faster than nice ones, I believe that), so I walked over to her and gave her a nice big cup with a drink with ice, since I was working that event...and ever since then... she adores me and her 2 other young mom friends do too.  The one with the pony tail has 3 kiddos and lives in our housing community. : ) She greeted me at the fireworks in our housing community thing a few weeks back...and I do try and look out for her and I think it's vice versa, even though I do run with the alpha mom crew at the school and events. : ) It always pays to be nice though...karma ya'll. Whatever you put out into the world comes right back at ya 10 fold...I believe it. : ) 

Great job all you scarers! That's so Monsters Inc., of me to call them scarers.

Look at that smiling man just shooting the breeze with Sadako! Hahaha!

We all went outside and all the kids lit fireworks. Just sparkler type and every kid participating is asked to bring a small pack and they combine all gathered and dole them out fairly that way. 

So many places...buckets with water...another bucket with sand/dirt with a candle to light said fireworks. None of this costs the school a thing! But it's loads of fun for the parents, the kids, the teachers!

Second fireworks event for both Branden and Noah of summer 2014!

You did such a wonderful job Bran, you are such a good sport to help out the way, that you did! : ) Anyway, that was the haunted school event for 2014 in our neck of the woods. : )

Summer break is here! Taco party at home! Homemade pizza from scratch. Kodomokai/Kids Club Fireworks!!! Pics from swimming school...

Last Thursday, July 17th, the last full day both Branden and Noah had school, since Friday was a half day. So, I cruised myself to Costco Thursday morning... I was there first thing as soon as they opened their doors. Just picked up these few items. Lean ground beef for our "let's party schools out dinner!!!" for the next day. Mozzarella cheese for homemade from scratch pizza for Saturdays dinner. And the rotisserie chicken was for Thursday night (swim night) so an easy meal appreciated. And choco croissants, yummm! For last day of school/next day of schools Friday's breakfast (yes please. lol)! : ) Grabbed a slice of pizza and a 60 yen soda with ice, had a drink and refilled before hopping into my car and heading back to Mayberry (my tiny town)

Friday! Both Branden and Noah got out at 11am. I picked them both up (Branden had a lot to lug home and on a bike, I just brought him home in my car, safer and easier)...they got changed and unpacked their stuff and I took them out to McD's for a celebration lunch...school is out for summer...woohoo yahoo and all that good stuff!!!! They had cheeseburgers and fries (Branden 3 cheeseburgers and Noah 2, they are growing boys...and they shared a large fry and a large soda) I had a goma salad and we went home. Summer break for me too...no horrible alarm waking me up at 5:30am every morning Mon-Fri. Yeah love summer break! : ) For supper Friday night we had tacos. The huge pack of ground beef I split into half and put in the freezer. But 1 half we used. I also made chicken tacos as well for myself. The 4 of us had a little taco party here at the house. Just knowing summer break was here...that we could now officially stay up late, wake up late. Just really really appreciated around here. So yippy, we were thrilled. And enjoyed our meal. The kids took showers, we all took turns showering and all ended up enjoying TV in the living room just a very nice Friday, July 18th. : ) 

I've been talking and blogging since 2005 the year...my blog started about how the kids help out around the house. When the kids have break, they help out around the house. I grew up with chores. And my kids have always been the same way. Like I said many many times before, even when they were 3 years old, I'd have them go and tidy the shoes in the genkan, help fold clothes, sure I might have to "refold" them again when they weren't watching of course, but it still gave them a purpose and they grew up always helping around the house. Or I remember buttering their toast or their frozen waffle even...and remembering when I felt they were old enough to start buttering their own. And yeah it looked like they were struggling with that butter knife and I would just patiently watch them try, but they did get the hang of it. : ) I do that to help them....because I love them... so when they are someday in college or uni, they will know how to do all that stuff. : ) Anyway...at age 9 and 12 and on summer break. Same as I blogged last year, one day one will vacuum the downstairs meanwhile the other will vacuum the actual stairs. And the next day they'll switch (I vacuum the upstairs every other day but the downstairs needs it daily). Also every morning they unload the dish washer 50/50 each of them. While I do the rest of the downstairs cleaning myself. They also do homework in the morning first thing after their chores are done. And I am making their breakfast. And from 11am-12 they can play. 12 noon is lunch time, music plays throughout the neighborhood and everything. But at 1pm-5 they can play outside too. Sometimes it's too hot outside and they come inside and play Wii. But mostly Noah rides his ripstick or they play soccer or they ride bikes throughout the neighborhood. We go on "real" vacation soon to California and they won't have a thing to do. : ) Me neither. : ) But for now we're doing regular stuff. : )

Branden was vacuuming the stairs this day, Noah meanwhile vacuumed the heck out of the downstairs. Really and honestly no, the kids being home on summer break doesn't drive me crazy at all... because they help me out a lot around the house or...they're off playing and being typical boys and kids. : ) This is also the season to go and look for beetles outside. : )

Meanwhile, Saturday morning, after I made breakfast and made the homemade pizza dough and let it rest in a big bowl. I did my nails (finger and toe nails) I went for a rosy gold color. I did have 1 accent solid gold sparkly nail. Because all the Yotube beauty vloggers are talking about the accent nail, lol. : ) 

8 of my nails look like this right now. A nice shimmer rose gold color and the tips with the gold glitter. This picture is total crapola... but the nails in real life came out really nice. And 1 accent nail on each hand. So 2 super glittery gold nails. 

This is a slightly better picture than the one up above... but it's still not a great pic but better than the one up above. The nails came out very cute and summery. : ) Very feminine and girly. : )

Saturday's pizzas baking nicely in the big oven. Oh yeah we were supposed to have our housing community fireworks, Saturday, but it rained...like lightning and thunder bolts! @.@ So it was postponed until the next/following day, Sunday, technically evening but you know what I mean. : ) 

We received some omiyage from Kyushu. Ramen. : ) 

Sunday morning after breakfast. I thought, you know what...I think I'm going to bake a pineapple upside down cake. I used 1 can of pineapple. I could have really used 2 more pineapple rings. But you know what...I wasn't about to go and buy a whole other can of pineapple for just 2 rings! That's nuts! I also used a yellow cake mix but...I used the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple as my "water" substitute when I made the cake mix according to the directions. So the cake came out so delicious and pineapple-y!! 

When Noboru came home from work...he said...what is that sweet smell, I smell it from the street/outside. He immediately had 2 slices. : ) That made me happy. Both the kids had 2 slices right away too, I had one slice. Needless to say this cake didn't last very long. : ) Which is so fine...I made it to make them happy in the first place! : ) I did make dinner Sunday. And at 7pm, I had to get myself to the "jinbei boy's" house because the fireworks were starting at 7:30pm!!! I had to help set up! : ) 

A blurry picture of Noah, Sunday evening July 20th at our fireworks celebration for our housing community. This is for elementary school kids only who live in our housing community. I did however bring my own pack of fireworks for Branden because he's still 12 and I know he'd like to light some too. And sure enough 5 other JHS students with younger siblings brought their own packs too. So they could enjoy too. And also younger siblings such as age 4 or 5 don't get fireworks either, so they also brought some for their younger kids too, who aren't quite in elementary school yet. 

We had such a nice turn out! : ) Very smoky, but a nice bunch of people showed up. 

That's Branden and Noah and the kiddo closest my camera is a JHS kiddo too and he was also on the swim team last year and his younger brother is in Noah's class. : ) 

I am so glad it didn't rain Sunday...otherwise it would have been cancelled completely. And the kids were so looking forward to this. : )

Just so many kids enjoying themselves. Us yakuin/kids club leaders, walked around with trash bags collected firework package wrappers, you know what I mean. Just any sort of trash we could collect. Making sure all candles were lit. Doing little chit chat with everyone, making sure everyone was having a good time. Etc etc. 

Many people on the left...

Many people on the right...

Here is Noboru in jeans and reddish shirt lighting the fireworks. This was the finale. Small finale, I know. But hey...I think we did okay. : ) If you recall...our housing community usually has a dashi pull, every summer, however the man who keeps the dashi and equipment for that...his wife is gravely ill. And so that was canceled this year and why we decided to do this instead for the kids. : ) It was no dashi pull, I know that...but it was at least something, us mothers/yakuin could whip together... and luckily Noboru came to the rescue to help light the finale/ bigger fireworks. Good guy. : )  

Awww! : ) I thought it was pretty. And everyone clapped and I hoped all the kids had a fun time. Everyone went home. Us yakuin stayed and cleaned as best as we could in pitch darkness. We agreed to come back at 8:30am the next morning/Monday morning and finish cleaning up. We did and the 4 of us cleaned the last bits up Monday morning, July 21st. I came home from cleaning firework remnants then, did my big toilet cleaning and big kitchen clean up Monday, the boys jumped in with vacuuming (so appreciated). And then us 3 hopped in my car and we went to the store after that. Bought the weekly groceries, weekly drinks, weekly fruit, etc. : ) We went home and had lunch, an egg salad sammy and potato chips. We all took an hour rest. I made an early dinner. Because I was taking the boys to swim school Monday evening. I promised to come and watch them. I like to go and watch them swim often over Summer break...when I am not running around like a chicken with her head cut off during summer break like I am when school's in session, so I get to go to swim school and watch the both of them.: ) 

Called the swim school an said that the swim bus wasn't needed that day because I was going to take them myself. They said okay. And upstairs I sat. : ) Branden swimming right here. His swimming is so strong! It flat out awes me. Puts me in awe!

Noah's swimming does as well. Oh my little one...however did you get to be such a little fish!

They just continuously swim back and forth for an hour and a half. How does their heart not explode from all that swimming? I honestly don't know! Fit as a fiddle, they are!!!

Noboru and I are both very strong swimmers. Boogie boarders and stuff ourselves. But our kids blow us away! Their technique, their strength...their speed. I forgot to show you the medals Noah won on his swimming competition, he did bring back 2. I'll share a pic of those this week. 

Leader of the lane is Branden in the yellow cap. The order is by skill level, who swims better and who swims faster! Noah was swimming 4th...but the kid in blue was being out swam by Noah so the coach pointed to blue cap and said you change and so blue cap became #4. And Noah became #3. Not to mention Noah is actually a year or 2 younger than blue cap and the fact Noah is the youngest period...for that swim lane, but yep, he's #3 for that lane now...unless he swims slower this coming Thursday. Noah is pretty competitive with his swimming so I imagine he'll stay 3rd for a while. So #1 and #2 both JHS kids and Noah is a 3rd grader and 3rd place for that lane, hahaha. And nobody messes with Noah because #1 they all know who his brother is and #2, Noah's just a nice kid and they've know him forever, Branden's a nice kid too and they've known him forever too. Noah swimming here... is very important to this swim school...he's just THAT good and for his age group, he's freaking amazing. Which is why this swim school wants him to swim for them when they go against other schools and whatnot. And why our elementary school can't wait for Noah to become a 4th grader and rep for our elementary school too. 

Branden passing out everyone a board for his lane. By the way...the kid in the black cap in the lane behind Branden's lane...that's S...he went to yochien with Branden. He's the leader of that lane, he's a good swimmer, not as good or as fast as Bran, but he is good though. : ) He's a real nice kid though and his mom is very nice too. : ) 

See the paper taped to the board near the coach. These kids don't need swim lessons anymore, because they frankly already know everything needed to know about swimming... hence the trophy and level 1. : ) But this is competitive swimming...which is totally and completely different...a coach watches over you yes... but you have a bunch of stuff to do whatever is taped on that board for that day...swim 50 meters of the butterfly, swim 100 meters of this or 50 meters of that. Or you have a set time to swim it in. This is what Branden and Noah do twice a week...competitive swimming. It's very very intense...your lungs and heart definitely get a workout. Hahaha. They're not just splish splashing around a pool, no sirree Bob! If your times are fast enough...yes they will ask you to compete...which is what happened with Noah. And actually both Branden and Noah were invited and asked to swim and represent for their swim club this summer but the date...is where we will be in California. But yep...competitive swimming course is what they're both doing. : )  It's good for them... because they love it...it keeps them active and fit. They have both been invited to be in the sports course but we haven't done that yet...because that's a 6 day a week commitment. And we do like to travel and have free time too though. 

Two brothers crossing paths...for a brief second. Bran and Noah : ) I smiled every time they did this. Anyway...this is what we've been up to around our neck of the woods...since both Branden and Noah have been on summer break. : )